Moving to Sri Lanka from Democratic Republic of the Congo

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Democratic Republic of the Congo to Sri Lanka — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Democratic Republic of the Congo to Sri Lanka, and you’d need to navigate life in Sinhala and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sri Lanka stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CD
16.3
LK
11.5

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CD
$58
LK
$507
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CD
1.9
LK
11.9

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CD
72.0
LK
37.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CD
0.1t
LK
1.1t

Democratic Republic of the Congo generally does better on environment, though Sri Lanka leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CD
0.0
LK
10.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CD
0.2%
LK
90.8%

Sri Lanka generally does better on infrastructure, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CD
4.5%
LK
6.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CD
$1,500
LK
$13,000

Sri Lanka generally does better on employment & economy, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CD
61.8 yrs
LK
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CD
60.9
LK
8.2

Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sri Lanka. To live, work, or study long-term in Sri Lanka, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sri Lanka's immigration authority.

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport

Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Democratic Republic of the Congo passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sri Lanka passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?

With 10.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sri Lanka can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sri Lanka.

Is Sri Lanka safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Democratic Republic of the Congo across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Democratic Republic of the Congo leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 1.9 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sri Lanka scores 67 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Democratic Republic of the Congo: 42).

What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?

The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, the official languages are French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.

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At a Glance

CD LK
Population 108,407,721 23,187,516
Currency Congolese Franc (CDF) Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Languages French, Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba Sinhala, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +243 +94
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 119